Bringing out the leadership qualities in girls has been a special mission for Beth Mooney

In 2005, the Malvern woman founded Learning to Lead, a nonprofit group that works with young people in schools and universities, helping students develop and hone their leadership skills, abilities that the participants can draw on in a host of positions.

Leading is something that comes as a matter of course for Mooney.

Growing up Endicott, a village in northern New York State near Binghamton, Mooney and her four siblings learned from their parents the importance of public service. Those good turns included leading and setting examples for others; Mooney was her class president, as were some siblings. Her father is mayor of the town, along with being a high school teacher. She knew when she grew up she was going to carry on that mission.

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In addition to having worked in the academic and business realms, Mooney for years had been planning a nonprofit organization that would help develop leadership in young people.

“I didn’t have much choice,” Mooney said with a laugh. “I knew I (wanted to) make a difference. Fortunately my husband had a similar upbringing.”

But it was during some of the earlier leadership activities with high school students in Learning to Lead when Mooney became aware of the behavior of some of the girls.

“I noticed the girls would be quiet and let the boys talk (more),” she said. And if it was a several-day program, the girls often would try to dress alike, an activity seemingly contrary to that of a leader. “It just drove me crazy,” Mooney said.

So Mooney developed Girls Take Charge, a program geared specifically for young women from all economic backgrounds and walks of life. “Some girls come from foster care, some go to elite schools -- it doesn’t matter,” she said.

The goal is to build their confidence and belief in themselves. They learn, Mooney said, that everyone -- even adults – can be afraid of taking chances and looking foolish. They also learn how to overcome that fear.

Mooney makes sure the activities are fun, interactive and brief. A typical exercise involves a guessing game using the names of woman leaders that the girls have written on cards. Mooney estimated that about 85 percent of the girls write down the same names – Oprah Winfrey, Harriet Tubman, Eleanor Roosevelt, Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama. Part of the exercise involves explaining the difference between celebrity and leadership.

A big component of Girls Take Charge is having women speakers -- those who are leaders in their communities -- talk to the girls about how they got where they are, but most importantly, the times they failed before they reached their goals. College student leaders also speak, giving the younger girls the benefit of their experiences.

Kelcy Mackell of Phoenixville, a senior at Notre Dame Academy in Radnor, has been attending Girls Take Charge events since she was in ninth grade. She first got involved through her mother, who is on the board of directors.

She said the tools and lessons she’s learned through the program have helped her in her leadership roles. “They emphasize a lot that being a leader is not about being bossy. Being a leader is (helping others) become leaders, too.”

As captain of her school and club volleyball teams, Mackell said it’s important for her to encourage others, which in turn “helps me keep a positive attitude.” And she believes that positive attitude will help her as she pursues her chosen field of nursing. “It’s all about teamwork and communication,” she said.

Kellie Dunn, a seventh-grade teacher at Downingtown Middle School, is a facilitator with Learning to Lead and had participated in Girls Take Charge.

Dunn said she’s impressed by how the girls are so enthusiastic about the program.

“I think even after the one-day workshop, it’s just so amazing to me that the girls walk out with even more confidence. They’ll say things like, ‘I’m going to join (student) council’ … I really appreciate and respect the girls who attend.

“The biggest thing I’ve learned from them is that they have so much potential, are so intelligent and can be themselves. They have so much strength.”

Mackell said her experiences with Girls Take Charge have confirmed what she knew.

“It was just assumed from the older ways that girls don’t have leadership roles – but it is normal to be a female leader and everyone can be.”

The next Girls Take Charge one-day workshop is Saturday, March 16, at Villanova University. It’s open to Philadelphia area and tri-state area girls in seventh to 12th grades. Admission is free. More information is available by contacting Beth Mooney at bethmooney@learningtolead.org or visiting www.Learningtolead.org.

-- Natalie Smith may be contacted at DoubleSMedia@rocketmail.com

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